Steering-wheel assembly with airbag

Abstract

A steering-wheel assembly includes a steering-wheel base including a plurality of catches, a horn electrical circuit extending along the steering-wheel base and electrically connected to a vehicle horn, and an airbag assembly including a plurality of hooks arranged to engage with respective ones of the catches. The horn electrical circuit includes a plurality of gaps across the respective ones of the catches. Each hook includes an electrical connector positioned to close the respective gap when the hook is fully engaged with the respective catch and to leave the respective gap open when the hook is disengaged from the respective catch. The horn electrical circuit is closable to activate the vehicle horn when the electrical connectors close the gaps. The horn electrical circuit is open when at least one of the electrical connectors is not closing the respective gap.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A steering-wheel assembly comprising:
 a steering-wheel base including a plurality of catches; 
 a horn electrical circuit extending along the steering-wheel base and electrically connected to a vehicle horn; and 
 an airbag assembly including a plurality of hooks arranged to engage with respective ones of the catches; 
 the horn electrical circuit including a plurality of gaps across the respective ones of the catches; 
 each hook including an electrical connector positioned to close the respective gap when the hook is fully engaged with the respective catch and to leave the respective gap open when the hook is disengaged from the respective catch; 
 the horn electrical circuit being closable to activate the vehicle horn when the electrical connectors close the gaps; and 
 the horn electrical circuit being open when at least one of the electrical connectors is not closing the respective gap. 
 
     
     
       2. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical connectors are metal plates each extending across respective exterior surfaces of the respective hooks. 
     
     
       3. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each hook includes an underside surface facing toward a frame portion of the airbag assembly; 
 the underside surfaces contact the respective catches when the respective hooks are fully engaged; and 
 the electrical connectors are positioned on the respective underside surfaces. 
 
     
     
       4. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 each catch includes a contact surface that contacts the respective underside surface when the respective hook is fully engaged; and 
 the contact surfaces are nonconductive. 
 
     
     
       5. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the gaps are arranged in series with each other in the horn electrical circuit. 
     
     
       6. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each gap includes a first wire terminal end and a second wire terminal end spaced from the first wire terminal end; and 
 the respective electrical connector contacts the first wire terminal end and the second wire terminal end of the respective gap when the respective hook is fully engaged. 
 
     
     
       7. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the horn electrical circuit includes an electrical switch closable by pressing an exterior shell of the airbag assembly toward the steering-wheel base. 
     
     
       8. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a spring biasing the exterior shell of the airbag assembly away from the steering-wheel base at the electrical switch. 
     
     
       9. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the airbag assembly includes a frame portion and the exterior shell, and the hooks are rigidly connected to the frame portion. 
     
     
       10. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the electrical switch is arranged in series with the gaps in the horn electrical circuit. 
     
     
       11. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the horn electrical circuit includes a plurality of electrical switches including the electrical switch, each electrical switch closable by pressing the exterior shell toward the steering-wheel base. 
     
     
       12. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical switches are arranged in parallel with each other in the horn electrical circuit. 
     
     
       13. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the parallel arrangement of the electrical switches is arranged in series with the gaps in the horn electrical circuit. 
     
     
       14. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hooks are elongated parallel to each other. 
     
     
       15. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the hooks define respective axes of elongation; 
 each hook includes an underside surface facing toward a frame portion of the airbag assembly along the respective axis of elongation; and 
 the underside surfaces contact the respective catches when the respective hooks are fully engaged. 
 
     
     
       16. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the electrical connectors are positioned on the respective underside surfaces. 
     
     
       17. The steering-wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion and an inflator positioned to inflate the airbag cushion.